Horsham Montessori

Horsham Montessori The Scout Hut, Higgins Way, Bennetts Field, off Brighton Road, Horsham, West Sussex, RH13 5JZ

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Inspection date

Previous inspection date 28 September 2017 10 May 2017

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This inspection: Good 2

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good 2

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This inspection: Good 2

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good 2

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This provision is good

 Children make good progress in their learning and development. They independently help themselves to the wide range of resources available to them.  Children are well behaved. Older children confidently help their younger friends and they show new children where to put their belongings.  The manager and staff use additional funding effectively to target the needs of children who receive it. For example, specific resources have been bought to help children's well-being and learning.  Parents speak very highly about the level of care and education with which their children are provided. They receive frequent information about their children's progress and they feel very involved in their children's learning.  Partnerships with external agencies and other providers are strong. Staff share information about children's care and learning effectively. This contributes to ensuring that there is a continuous approach to meeting children's specific needs.

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This provision is good

 The manager evaluates the setting and includes the views of staff, parents and children. Together, they identify continuous improvements that benefit children.

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It is not yet outstanding because:

 Staff do not always provide children with frequent opportunities to explore their own thoughts and creative ideas, particularly in the adult-led activities.  The monitoring of staff performance is not strong enough to clearly identify how individual staff members can raise the quality of their practice to the highest level.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

 provide children with frequent opportunities to explore their own thoughts and creative ideas, particularly in the adult-led activities  extend the arrangements for staff performance management to help identify and build on their teaching skills, to raise the quality of teaching to the highest level.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact of these activities on children's learning.  The inspector looked at samples of children's records and planning documentation. She also looked at evidence of the suitability of staff working with the children.  The inspector spoke to staff and children at appropriate times during the inspection.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the manager and held a meeting with her.  The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is good

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. Since the last inspection, recruitment and vetting procedures are more secure. All checks for staff are now in place and this is carefully monitored. Staff know the signs that may raise a concern for a child's welfare. They have a secure understanding about the procedures that they would follow in the event of a concern. The well-qualified manager and her team regularly attend additional training and share knowledge gained. For example, they reviewed how books are used to support children's communication skills. Staff make sensitive observations of children's progress and share these with parents to identify any gaps in learning. Children receive relevant support, such as one-to-one support to help children catch up.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good

Staff are very attentive to children's needs. They offer a balance between planned activities and those children choose for themselves. Children have fun building ramps and enjoy discovering how to successfully complete jigsaws. Staff help younger children and those who speak English as an additional language to make connections in their learning. For instance, they use gestures and body language along with simple signs to explain what needs to be done. External tutors help provide a range of activities to add to their experiences. For example, the children enjoy taking part in dance classes and learning different languages.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are good

The manager places a high emphasis on ensuring that children feel secure and settled. This contributes positively to promoting children's emotional well-being. The key-person system is effective and helps new children to develop good relationships with staff. Children's health and safety are well managed. For example, discussions regularly take place about the need to drink water. Children learn to select their own portions of food and staff follow good hygiene routines. Staff promote children's safety at all times, such as when they go on outings. Staff help children to understand the world and how things grow. For example, they regularly visit the allotment and discuss the wildlife and plants seen. Outdoors and indoors, children have ample opportunities to practise their physical skills. They learn to manage risks, such as successfully riding scooters up and down the ramp.

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Outcomes for children are good

Children are successfully gaining skills they need to move on to the next stage of their learning or school. This includes children who receive funded education and children who speak English as an additional language. Very young children attempt to put on aprons in preparation for a painting activity. Older children work well together to solve problems, such as discovering how gravity works when playing with balls and tubes. Children are confident and eagerly show how they can form letters of their names.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY333671 Local authority West Sussex Inspection number 1099440 Type of provision Full-time provision Day care type Childcare - Non-Domestic Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 2 - 4 Total number of places 35 Number of children on roll 47 Name of registered person Horsham Montessori Limited

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reference number

Date of previous inspection 10 May 2017 Telephone number 01403 750 504

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reference number

Horsham Montessori registered in 2006. It is open from 8am to 5pm each weekday, during term time only. The setting employs 11 staff. Of these, nine staff hold early years qualifications at level 3 or above. Four staff, including the manager, hold qualified teacher status. The setting supports children who speak English as an additional language. It receives funding to provide free early education for children aged three and four years. The setting operates in line with the Montessori educational philosophy.

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reference number

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and care, known as the early years foundation stage.

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reference number

procedures set out in the guidance ‘Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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reference number

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reference number

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reference number

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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